Slide fasteners



H. ERDMANN SLIDE FASTENERS Jul 7, 1959 Filed NOV. 8 1955 2 Sheets-Shet 1 FIG.

INVEN OR HANS ERDMANN ATTORNEY I July 7, 1959 H. ERPMANN SLIDE FASTENERS Filed N0v a, 1955 251 5 5 IIIIKIIIIIIEIIA sagsxiw g 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR HANS ERDMANN United States Patent SLIDE FASIENERS Hans Erdmann, Maplewood, NJ., assignor to Waldes Kohinoor, Inc., Long Island City, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application November 8, 1955, Serial No. 545,711

1 Claim. (Cl. 24-20541 This invention relates to improvements in slide fasteners and more particularly to improved means for locking the slider of a slide fastener in its fastener-closing end position.

Slide fasteners of the type to which the present invention pertains are well known and usually comprise a pair of stringer tapes carrying rows of oppositely interlocking fastener elements along their adjacent beaded edges, and a generally Y-shaped slider movable along said rows for engaging and disengaging the oppositely disposed elements thereof, the sliderlbeing usually actuable in both fastener opening and fastener closing direction by a pull tab pivotally connected to the slider front wing and having a normal lowered position in;which it lies close against said slider wing. It is also well known to provide the pull tab with a lug which in the normal or lowered position of the pull tab projects through an opening provided in the slider front Wing into the slider channel and presses more or less firmly on a fastener element of one or the other row thereof which is then disposed immediately below said opening and in line with the lug, thereby to cam-lock said fastener element against the rear slider wing. A preferred construction of such a so-called earn-lock slider as disclosed in Soave Patent No. 2,193,080, dated March 12,1940, which with the present application is commonly owned, additionally provides a depression or pocket formed in the inner face of the rear slider wing in line with the aforesaid front wing opening, said depression terminating at its top end (corresponding to the top end of the slider) in a steep, i.e. vertical, wall defining a locking shoulder which is disposed transversely to the direction of movement of the fastener elements through the slider channel, and moreover having a bottom wall which slopes downwardly toward said shoulder. Thus, when the slider tends to move, or is moved in fastener-opening direction, a fastener element engaged and pressed downwardly into said recess by the, pull tab lug or cam abuts the afore said locking shoulder, such action locking the slider against any substantial movement in fastener-opening direction. At the same time, it is possible to actuate the slider in fastener-closing direction since the flexibility of the fastener tapes and the increased depth of the slider channel in the zone of the depression enables the fastener elements advancing toward the locking shoulder to move relatively over said shoulder without being locked thereby when the slider is moved in fastener-closing direction.

While enjoying substantial popularity continuing experience with the priorcam-lock slider as just described has revealed that it is not welllsuited to those applications wherein the fastener is likely to be subjected to extraordinarily strong, quickly applied opening. forces occurring, for example, when the fastener is opened by roughly stripping the stringers apart without using the pull tab. Such rough handling, which usually takes place when the slider has v been lockedvto .the fastener chain in some intermediate portion along the length thereof, can result in the captive fastener element, i.e. the ele- 2,893,093 Patented J uly 7, 1959 ment which is engaged on the locking shoulder, being destroyed, or in said element pulling away from and/or tearing its tape, and even in impairment of the pull tab lug.

It has also come to be recognized that in certain slide fastener applications, for example, trouser flies, ladies handbags, tobacco pouches, and the like, there is no need for locking the slider at any and all points of its travel because in such applications it is not desirable that the fastener be maintained in a partiallyopen condition. Rather, and of course speaking generally, in such applications it is required only that the slider be capable of locking to the fastener chain when said slider is in its full fastener-closing end position.

With the above considerations in mind, an important object of the present invention is the provision of means for locking the slider of a slide fastener to the fastener chain thereof, which is so constructed and arranged as to be effective only when the slider is in its full fastenerclosing end position, thereby enabling the slider to be more or less freely moved in fastener-opening direction from any of the possible intermediate positions which it may take along the length of the fastener, and hence eliminating the possibility of the fastener parts being damaged or destroyed by rough, forceful opening of the fastener when locked by the slider in a partially open condition, as sometimes happened when using the prior cam-lock sliders.

More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide cooperating means on both the slider and topstop end of a fastener for locking the slider against unintentional movement in fastener-opening direction which is effective only when the slider is in its full fastenerclosing end position.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of cam-lock means for locking the slider of a slide fastener against movement in fastener-opening direction which, while of the general type disclosed in Soave Patent No. 2,193,080, dated March 12, 1940, is operative only when the slider is in its full fastener-closing end position. 7

A further object of the invention is the provision of slide fastener locking means of the cam lock type as generally disclosed in the aforesaid Soave Patent No. 2,193,- 080, but which is modified so as to be efiective to lock the fastener against opening only when the slider isin its full fastener-closing end position, thereby enabling the fastener to be freely opened when the slider is in any of its possible intermediate positions along the length of the slider. p

The above and other objects and advantages of a slider-lockingmeans according to the present invention will appear from the following detailed description, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred construction thereof, wherein Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a conventional slide fastener incorporating locking means according to the present invention, the fastener being illustrated in partly open condition and with the slider pull tab in its normal lowered position;

Fig. 2 is a true section taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1, illustrating the locking lug in non-locking relation with fastener elements disposed below the same in the slider channel;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the locking lug in locking relation with one or more of said elements; 7

Figs. 4 and 5 are diagrammatic sections corresponding, respectively, to Figs. 2 and 3, and which further illustrate the non-locking and locking relationship of lock ing lug to fastener elements within the slider channel;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged under-end view of a top stop form inng a component of the slider locking means of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a front edgeview of the top stop, viewed in relation to two next adjacent fastener elements which are shown in dotted lines; and

Figs. 8 and 9 arelfront-edge and plan views, respectively, of an alternate form of top stop adapted to form the component of a slider locking means according to the present invention.

In the drawings, reference numerals 10, 11 designate a pair of the stringer tapes of a well known form of slide fastener, to whose adjacent edges which are usually beaded as at 12, 13 are clamped rows of oppositely-disposed interlocking fastener elements 14 whose coupling heads are adapted to be engaged and disengaged, thereby to close and open the fastener chain, by a slider generally designated 15, all as well known in the art. The slider, except as will be hereinafter pointed out, is conventional and comprises Y-shapedparallel front and rear wings 15a, 15b which are connected in spaced relation at the mid points of their respective top edges by a connector 16 which also serves as a divider extending into the interior of the, slider body for separating theinterengaged, oppositely disposed fastener elements moving through the slider channel when the slider is moved in fastener-openingdirection, which is downwardly in Fig. 1. It will of course be understood that when the slider 15 is moved in the opposite or upward direction it acts to bring together and interlock the coupling heads of the oppositely disposed fastener elements, thereby progressively to close the fastener.

Secured to the slider body as by a bail 17 extending from the slider front wing 15a is a pull tab 18 serving as a convenient means for actuating the slider in either fastener-opening or fastener-closing direction. Integral withthe pull tab, and depending inwardly therefrom, is at least one locking lug 19 which, when the pull tab is in itsnormal lowered position in which it lies close against the slider body, projects through a window or opening 20 in the slider front wing into the slider channel. As seen in Fig. 1, two locking lugs 19, 19a (and openings 20 therefor) may be provided, but since said lugs are identical in structure and function, only the lug 19 and its functioning will be hereafter described in detail. It is to be observed, however, that the lugs are laterally offset to the sides of the vertical center line of the slider body by an amount such that the lug 19 is disposed above the fastener elements 14 mounted on the lefthand stringer tape and the lug 19a is disposed above the fastener element of the righthand stringer tape 11.

As illustrated in Figs. 2-5, the lug 19 has length such that its free end, which is preferably formed as a rounded nose, projects into the slider channel an appreciable amount, which is generally such that said nose is adapted to bear against the one of the fastener elements within the slider channel which is then disposed directly below same and thereupon press said element tightly against the inner face of the slider rear wing b.

Preferably, said inner face is provided with a recess or depression 21 disposed beneath the locking lug 19, the eflect of which is to increase the depth of the channel, for at least the length portion thereof into which the locking lug 19 projects, by an amount such that the fastener elements may move past the projecting nose of the lug without being blocked thereby, and preferably also said depression terminates at its top end, i.e. its end corresponding to the top or connector end of the slider body, in a steeply ,angled end wall defining a locking shoulder 22 which extends transversely across the slider channel. To the extent so far described, the aforesaid slider locking means generally corresponds to the camlock type of locking slider disclosed in the aforesaidSoave Patent No. 2,193,080.

However, rather than the length of the depression 21 being so short as effectively to accommodate but the one fastener element then disposed below the locking lug and also the locking shoulder 22 being located lengthwise in the slider channel as to be abutted by the one fastener element on which the locking lug directly bears, as characterizes the Soave cam-lock, it is a feature of the present invention that the depression 21 has a fiat bottomed portion of substantial length capable of accommodating a plurality of the fastener elements, i.e. at least two elements of one row and atleast one element and preferably two or three such elements of the opposite row thereof; and it is a further feature of the invention that the locking shoulder 22 is located a lesser distance from the top end of the slider than the Soave locking shoulder, the difference being of the order of the spacing between two fastener elements of a row thereof. Thus, as seen in Figs. 2 and 4, a fastener element disposed directly below the nose of the locking lug 19 is always spaced from the locking shoulder 22 a distance such thatsaid fastener element is not at thesame time held tightly against the said locking shoulder. Rather, said element is well spaced from said shoulder and hence is free to tip and ride over same as the slider 15 is moved in fastener-opening direction or to the left in Fig. 1. To graphically explain the above, note spacing of fastener element designated 14x (Fig. 2) and which is disposed directly below the locking lug 19 from the locking shoulder 22, and further note the tipped element designed 14y (Fig. 4) which is beginning to ride over the locking shoulder 22 consequent to the aforesaid spacing, such latter assuming that movement of the slider 15 in fastener-opening direction has been initiated.

Thus, it will be seen that the present cam-lock means differs from the prior slider cam-locks in purposefully permitting the slider to be actuated in fastener-opening direction without interference from the cam or locking lug from any point of its travel, excepting from its full fastener-closing end position as will be described. In other words, the present slide lock is designed to be devoid of any fastener-locking function whatsoever when the slider is at rest in any of its possible intermediate positions along the length of the fastener.

However, it is equally the purpose of the invention to lock the slider against unintentional opening when it is in its full fastener-closing end position, usually its topmost end position as established by its engagement with a slider top-stop securedto one or both of the fastener tapes at a predetermined position. According to the invention, the top stop forms a component of the slider locking means as will be explained. Referring to Figs. 1, 3 and 5, a top stop designated 25 is clamped to the head of each of the fastener tapes at the usual top stop location. Preferably, said top stop has the form of one of the fastener elements 14, except for its locking projection, and although somewhat oversize as respects element size is nevertheless dimensioned so as to fit more or less snugly into the spacebetween two of the topmost elements of the same row, i.e. those designated 14a, 14b. As seen in Figs. 6 and 7, the under side face of the top stop is recessed as at 26, the recess accommodating the locking projection of the next lower fastener element 14a. Thus, the top stop 25 is in practical effect a slightly oversize rigid extension of said next lower fastener element 14a, which substantially fills the space between said element and the next higher fastener element 14b.

The action of the top stop as a component of the locking means is graphically illustrated in Fig. 5. In this view it Will be observed that the fastener element 14a has the same relative position with respect to the locking lug 19 and the locking shoulder 22 as does the fastener 14x of Fig. 2.- However, rather than the element 14a being able to tip to the position of fastener element 14y in Fig. 4, it is positively restrained from so tipping by the top stop 25 which extends to and firmly abuts the said locking shoulder. In other words, the top stop 25 acting as an extension of the fastener element l la positively blocks move! ment of the slider from its full fastener-closing end position so long as the pull tab 18 is maintained in its normal or lowered position. However, when intentional opening of the fastener is desired, the pull tab is swung to a raised position, such lifting the nose of the locking lug 19 out of the slider channel, whereupon the slider may be freely actuated in fastener opening direction.

In slide fasteners of the type wherein no fastener elements disposed above the top stop are desirable, the latter may take the form illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. In such views, the top stop proper as designated by the reference numeral 28 is clamped to the tape bead and corresponds generally to the top stop 25. It also includes an extension portion 29 of lesser cross sectional dimension so as to be freely movable into and through the slider channel. The extension portion is also clamped to the tape bead and thus it imparts additional holding power to the top stop proper.

Without further analysis, it will be appreciated that the slider-to-fastener locking means of the present invention as described above achieves in highly effective manner yet with simple construction the objectives of the invention as explained in the foregoing. However, as many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

A slide fastener comprising, in combination, rows of oppositely disposed interlocking fastener elements mounted on the adjacent edges of a pair of flexible carriers, a slider for engaging and disengaging said fastener elements when moved in opposite directions along the length of the fastener, said slider comprising front and rear wings, a neck connecting said wings in spaced parallel relation and cooperating therewith to define a Y-shaped channel extending through the slider body, a pull tab pivotally connected to the slider for actuating the same and having a normal lowered position in which it lies close to the slider front wing, and means for locking the slider in a fastenerclosing end position thereby to prevent unintentional opening of the fastener while permitting free movement of the slider in fastener-opening direction from any intermediate position along the length of the slider, said means including a locking lug on the pull tab adapted in the lowered position of said pull tab to project through an opening in the slider front 'wing into the slider channel and to press on the one of the fastener elements within the channel then positioned directly below its free end, the inner face of the rear slider wing having a depression therein disposed generally below said opening which increases the normal depth of the channel by an amount such that said locking lug may slip on said one fastener element rather than cam-locking therewith, said depression having length as to accommodate a plurality of the fastener elements and terminating at its end adjacent the neck end of the slider in a locking shoulder, said shoulder being substantially spaced from the locking lug in the direction of the said neck end whereby said one element disposed beneath the locking lug is correspondingly spaced from said shoulder and is accordingly free to tilt clear of said locking shoulder upon movement of the slider in fasteneropening direction being initiated, and a top stop for establishing the fastener-closing end position of the slider, said top stop comprising a member having size and shape corresponding generally to that of the fastener elements and being mounted on a flexible carrier between two adjacent fastener elements at the upper end of a row thereof and being provided with means enabling it to interfit with the lower of said two adjacent elements, the construction and arrangement being such that said member forms a rigid extension of the lower of said two adjacent elements which is adapted to fill the space between said two adjacent elements, thereby to prevent the upper of said two adjacent elements from tilting clear of said locking shoulder when the slider is moved to a position in which said lower element is disposed below and is pressed upon by said locking lug as aforesaid.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,193,080 Soave Mar. 12, 1940 2,220,136 Marinsky Nov. 5, 1940 2,267,384 Waldes Dec. 23, 1941 2,569,051 Groif Sept. 25, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 543,953 Great Britain Feb. 3, 1942 557,648 Germany Aug. 26, 1932 706,794 Great Britain Apr. 7, 1954 

